Eucharistic Congress in Charlotte

I had the privilege of attending the Eucharistic Congress in Charlotte this past weekend. I was pleasantly surprised by the concert of sacred music featured Friday evening -- O Sacrum Sonvivium (Remondi), Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart), Mass in G Minor (Schubert), Veni Creator Spiritus (Sturk), Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach), The Lord Is My Shepherd (Thomas Matthews), If Ye Love Me (Thomas Tallis), Cantique e Jean Racine (Faure), Glory And Worship Are Before Him (Handel), Ave Maria No. 17 (Villa-Lobos), O God Beyond All Praising (Holst).

Not bad.

Saturday, with a larger attendance, featured a more popular variety of charismatic-style "praise" music by performers with guitars and drums.

Not unexpected.

Jim Caviezel spoke Friday night. He offered some light-hearted humor and a memorable and endearing impersonation of Pope John Paul II, based a humerous exchange between them during a private audience during the filming of The Passion of the Christ. Some fascinating details about how he came to faith and some uncanny ways in which the Blessed Mother intervened at various points in his career. I suppose one of the most memorable moments for many was Caviezel's reenactment of William Wallace's speech rallying his troops before the last battle in Mel Gibson's film Braveheart. Caviezel's point, of course, is that we face a similar choice today -- to either escape to the comforts of our homes or stand in the field, face the enemy, and fight. But a far more memorable moment was a much more subdued one, a point made almost in passing, which sticks in my mind. It was a quiet but firm, and heart-felt warning to priests to resist three temptations -- (1) the temptation of comfort, (2) the temptation of timidity, and (3) the greatest temptation of all -- the temptation to want to be liked.

The Christian message will not be greeted as "good news" by everybody. Christ will not be hailed as the "Buddy Jesus" by all. It's not for nothing that He is called a Rock of Offense in Scripture, and that the Gospel is called a Scandal to unbelievers. Hence, the importance of being clear about the message with our children and with the world. Our purpose is not to be liked but to be faithful to Christ.

I could say much more about Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa's message. I could say more about Kerri Caviezel's fascinating talk. But I have to run. And the most imporant thing about the whole weekend for me personally was the deep impression of God's people gathered to take time out of their busy days to spend time apart, with Him, with their Eucharistic Lord, to praise Him, to sing to Him, to adore Him, to be with Him, to love Him, to atone for the hideous indifference that greets and surrounds Him so often in our parishes.

For highlights of the 2005 Eucharistic Congress in Charlotte, including slideshows of the Eucharistic procession (led by Bishop Peter Jugis, and including former bishops William Curlin and John Donoghue), the Holy Hour, Vigil Mass, etc., check out the Diocese of Charlotte website.